Krao Farini - the lost link of evolution (9 photos)

Regarding the truth of the thesis about the origin of man from apes, one can argue endlessly. But the story of one individual can be used to demonstrate the veracity of this theory. Albeit indirectly and with reservations.





One day, in one of the Philadelphia shows, a “missing link” appeared - something that occupies an intermediate position between man and ape.



With Farini

Krao was born in Siam, in what is now Thailand, in 1876. From birth, the girl was completely covered with hair, including a silky mane that flowed down her back between her shoulder blades. At the age of six, she was discovered by a showman nicknamed the Great Farini.



Farini took the girl on a tour of Europe and then began touring in the United States. Quite quickly, Krao became the crown jewel of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circuses.



Krao was often called the "monkey woman", but was mainly touted as "Darwin's missing link". For everyone who saw her, she was a vivid and, most importantly, living proof of Darwin's ideas.



A rather ridiculous claim was that Krao belonged to a race of ape-like people who lived in trees. But many bought the story, including famous naturalists and scientists.



Much work has been written about Krao and its role as Darwinian evidence. In the 1896 book Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine, the authors noted its many ape-like characteristics, including the legs of a predator.



In fact, Krao was a young woman of above average intelligence, well-read, and spoke several languages. It just so happened that she was suffering from a progressive form of hypertrichosis.



Unlike Julia Pastrana, Krao was lucky in that she was never exploited. She has spent most of her adult life performing and showcasing herself on her own terms. She spent the last 20 years in a private apartment, entertaining guests and neighbors with her cooking and charm.



With colleagues from the circus and misfortune, third from left

Krao never married, although she had suitors, and died of influenza on April 16, 1926.